Life — April 19, 1923 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Princess at Luxor" This page features a poem by Katharine Parker Thorc about an Egyptian princess, accompanied by a satirical illustration of a museum scene. The cartoon depicts visitors viewing a mummy at what appears to be a luxury museum or exhibition space, likely referencing Luxor in Egypt. The satire hinges on the dialogue at bottom: a man observes it's a princess from 3,000 years ago, while a woman responds nostalgically that "women were more homely in those days"—a dig at modern women's vanity and beauty standards. The poem itself romanticizes the dead princess's life and spiritual journey. The piece combines fin-de-siècle fascination with Egyptology and mummy exhibitions (popular tourist attractions) with commentary on gender, mortality, and changing social values.